Tandem effect anti-tank projectile



Dec. 17, 1968 BROTHERS TANDEM EFFECT ANTI-TANK PROJECTILE Filed Dec. 7,1966 INVENTOR. JACK BROTHERS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,416,449TANDEM EFFECT ANTI-TANK PROJECTILE Jack Brothers, Succasunna, N.J.,assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretaryof the Army Filed Dec. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 600,698 2 Claims. (Cl. 102-56)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tandem effect anti-tank projectile, inwhich the forward impact sensitive nose portion and the rearwardlypositioned ignition fuze are interconnected by electrical circuitry,having a first high explosive filler forwardly adjacent the fuze fordeveloping a first forwardly directed shock wave. The first filler has aforwardly opening conical surface to which a first liner isjuxtapositioned. A second high explosive filler, in the form of acentrally apertured annulus positioned forwardly of the first filler andliner, is responsive to the first developed shock wave and develops asecond forwardly directed shock wave. A midsection of the second fillerdefines a throat-like nozzle portion and extending forwardly therefromis a forwardly opening conical surface. A second liner surrounds theentire internal surface area of the second filler.

This invention relates to weapons and, more particularly, to a highexplosive anti-tank weapon.

In targets such as armored tanks, the concept has been developed toprovide a protective cover overlying its main armor. The cover could beof earth, mud, clay, fibre glass or other dissimilar material, so as toprotect the main armor against prior known weapons.

-It is an object of the invention to provide a weapon having thecapability of delivering a maximum devastating or destructive force uponthe main armor portion of a target provided with a protective cover.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a weapon having thecapability to first penetrate the target spaci-ve armor and then todefeat or destroy the thereby exposed portion of the main armor.

These and other objects, advantages and features will become moreapparent from the following description and accompanying drawings inwhich the sole figure is a longitudinal sectional view of the weaponembodying the principles of the invention.

The main projectile body portion has a rearwardly extending tail boom 11and forwardly extending probe portion 12 that terminates in an impactsensitive nose portion 13. At the rearward portion of the main bodyportion shown generally at 10 is a centrally positioned ignition fuze 14which is connected by electrical circuitry 15 with the nose portion 13.

Extending across the projectile interior forwardly adjacent the fuze 14is a first body of high explosive filler 16 having a forwardly openingconical surface 17 which is of predetermined contour as is a matingfirst liner 18. The cup-like liner 18, preferably formed of coppermaterial, has outwardly extending forward-most flange means 19 for apurpose hereinafter described.

A second high explosive filler 20 in the form of a centrally aperturedannulus is positioned forwardly of the first filler 16 and its liner 1%,with the entire internal surface area of second filler 20 covered with amating copper liner shown generally at 21 of predetermined annularconfiguration to define a mid-length throat-like nozzle portion 22intermediate outwardly tapering conical portions 23, 24 thatrespectively terminate in forward and 3,416,449 Patented Dec. 17, 1968rearward outwardly extending flange means 25, 26 which are assembled insuitable sealing positions between or adjacent the preferably threadedconnecting means of the central projectile body portion 27 with matingrespective portions of the forward and rear-ward projectile bodyportions 28, 29.

The tandem arrangement of the fillers 16, 20 is such that upon impactwith the target, nose 13 sends a signal through electrical circuitry 15to initiate fuze 14 that in turn initiates first explosive filler 16 todevelop a first jet or shook wave from liner 18. A major portion of thefirst jet proceeds axially through the nozzle portion 22 to destroy anyspacive armor or protective covering the target may have been providedwith, thereby exposing the target main armor. Meanwhile, a portion ofthe first jet initiates the second filler 20 after a predetermined timedelay to develop a second jet or shock wave that destroys or defeats theexposed portion of the target main armor.

It is contemplated that separate fuze arrangements may be used in tandemfor each liner with an appropriate interconnecting time delay means andadditional explosive fillers may be employed in tandem to producefurther sequential jets.

Various other modifications, alterations or changes may be resorted towithout departing from the scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In an anti-tank projectile having a forward impact sensitive noseportion, rearwardly positioned ignition fuze, and electrical circuitryinterconnecting said nose with said fuze,

means including a first high explosive filler for developing a firstforwardly directed shock wave, said first filler extending across saidprojectile forwardly adjacent said fuze and having a forwardly openingconical surface,

a first liner juxtapositioned said first filler conical surface,

means, responsive to said first shock wave developing means, including asecond high explosive filler for developing a second forwardly directedshock wave, said second explosive filler being in the form of acentrally apertured annulus positioned forwardly of said first fillerand its liner, a mid-section of said second filler defining athroat-like nozzle portion, said second filler having a forwardlyopening conical surface extending forwardly from said nozzle portion,and

a second liner surrounding the entire internal surface area of saidsecond filler.

2. The arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fillers aremounted in tandem and the forward portion of said projectile has a probeportion extending forwardly of said second filler substantially to saidnozzle portion and containing a portion of said electrical circuitry.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,697,400 12/ 1954 Liljegren10256 2,849,957 9/1958 Kiiller et a1. 102- 56 X FOREIGN PATENTS 999,974-10/1951 France. 1,002,092 10/ 1951 France.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. JAMES FOX, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. XJR. 1224

